Viola Plant Named &#39;Halo Lemon Frost&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Viola  plant named ‘Halo Lemon Frost’, characterized by its bright yellow and cream colored flowers with medium violet-blue margins, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Viola cornuta

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Halo Lemon Frost’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Violaplant botanically known as Viola cornuta and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Halo Lemon Frost’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during April 2010. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Viola cultivars having large flowers withdistinctive flower coloration and a mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Viola cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Viola cornutabreeding selection coded 08-22123-1, not patented, characterized by itslight yellow-colored flowers with light violet-blue margins, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and vigorous, trailing growth habit. The male(pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Viola cornutabreeding selection coded 08-22094-1, not patented, characterized by itslight yellow-colored flowers with dark violet-blue margins, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit.The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during October2010 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceOctober 2010 in Guadalupe, Calif. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated thatthe new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Halo Lemon Frost’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Viola plant:

1. Bright yellow and cream colored flowers with medium violet-bluemargins;

2. Medium green-colored foliage; and

3. Vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having a darker flower margin color. Plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having amore vigorous, spreading growth habit and a lighter flower margin color.

Of the many commercially available Viola cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is ‘Halo Lilac’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.24,542. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ fromplants of ‘Halo Lilac’ in at least the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new cultivar have a petal color different from plantsof ‘Halo Lilac’; and

2. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color that is darker thanplants of ‘Halo Lilac’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Halo LemonFrost’. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximatelytwo months in a greenhouse and one month outdoors in Elburn, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Halo Lemon Frost’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘HaloLemon Frost’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in June 2014 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown utilizing a soilless growth medium in one-galloncontainers for approximately two months in a greenhouse and one monthoutdoors in Elburn, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day andapproximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. Nosupplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Viola cornuta cultivar Halo Lemon Frost.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Viola cornuta breeding selection            coded 08-22123-1, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Viola cornuta breeding selection            coded 08-22094-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-spreading.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 17.0 cm. Width: Approximately 32.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main            branches per plant: Approximately 24.        -   Lateral branches.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Length:            Approximately 16.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Length of central internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture:            Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 144C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 7. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:            Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and            leaf blade is perpendicular to downward turning. Shape:            Narrowly ovate. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Attenuate to rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 5.7 cm. Width            of mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 2.5 cm.            Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of            upper surface of young foliage: 146B with base of 144B and            venation indistinguishable from lamina. Color of lower            surface of young foliage: Closest to 138A to 138B with            venation indistinguishable from lamina. Color of upper            surface of mature foliage: N137B with midvein of 145A and            other venation indistinguishable from lamina. Color of lower            surface of mature foliage: Closest to 137B to 137C with            venation of 145A.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 4.8 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A.        -   Stipules.—Shape: Narrowly Ovate. Margin: Pinnately parted.            Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Length: Approximately 5.6 cm.            Width: Approximately 2.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface: 137A to 137B            with venation indistinguishable from lamina. Color of lower            surface: Closest to 147B with venation of 144A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Halo Lemon Frost’ is freely flowering            under outdoor growing conditions with substantially            continuous blooming from spring through autumn and with            limited flowering under short winter days in a greenhouse            environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, zygomorphic, not            persistent. Flower aspect; Outward facing to pendant.            Quantity per plant: Approximately 17. Fragrance: Slightly            sweet.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity            showing color per plant: Approximately 20.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Color:            150C with patches of 85D.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Orbicular, with a spur on lower petal.            Length: Approximately 4.1 cm. Width: Approximately 3.9 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.9 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Five in a single whorl; two upper petals,            two lateral petals and one lower petal, spurred. Shape of            upper and lateral petals: Obovate. Shape of lower petal:            Obcordate. Appearance: Dull. Margin of all petals: Entire.            Apex of upper and lateral petals: Rounded. Apex of lower            petal: Obcordate. Base of all petals: Attenuate. Length of            upper petals: Approximately 2.2 cm. Width of upper petals:            Approximately 2.6 cm. Length of lateral petals:            Approximately 2.0 cm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately            2.2 cm. Length of lower petal: Approximately 1.9 cm. Width            of lower petal: Approximately 2.6 cm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous, with base of lateral and lower petals            densely glandular pubescent. Texture of lower surface:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface of upper petals when first            and fully open: 10D to 10A with margins of N88C. Color of            lower surface of upper petals when first and fully open:            Lighter than 3D with margins of 91A. Color of upper surface            of lateral petals when first and fully open: 3A to 3C with            margins of N88C. Color of lower surface of lateral petals            when first and fully open: 3D with margins of 92B. Color of            upper surface of lower petal when first and fully open: 6B            to 6C with margins of N88C and base of 14B forming an eye.            Color of lower surface of lower petal when first and fully            open: 3D with margins of 92B.        -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm.            Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Color: Closest to 189B.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Star. Diameter: Approximately 2.4 cm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 in a single whorl. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute to truncate. Length:            Approximately 1.7 cm. Width: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and            lower surfaces: 138A.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong, flexible. Aspect:            Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 9.4 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per            flower, tightly appressed against ovary. Stamen length:            Approximately 3.5 mm, two bear nectar spurs of approximately            3.0 mm in length. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther width: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Anther color: 155A with 165B at apex. Pollen amount: Sparse.            Pollen color: NN155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per            flower. Pistil length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Stigma shape:            Globular. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color:            145B. Style length: Approximately 1.0 m. Style color: 145D.            Ovary length: 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 145A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Viola has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Viola plant named‘Halo Lemon Frost’, substantially as herein shown and described.